September 19: TWO DIFFERENT FOUNDATIONS

And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. Daniel 11:23

The him in today’s verse is a general reference to Rome; “he” began very small, and his beginnings are briefly referenced in 8:9 (Daniel’s vision of divided Greece). Out of one of them (them being the four winds of heaven in v.8) came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. This little horn power began in the west, relative to Israel. Rome began as a city-state and the Romans were only a small people. A finer-tuned translation from the original Hebrew would be a horn from littleness. This power, for that is what a horn symbolizes, came into being through cunning, organization, shrewd rulership, and their own special brand of diplomacy which involved arranging treaties, mutual assistance pacts, and leagues. These formal agreements claimed protection for mutual interests between Rome and the various nations that submitted to his authority. But the reality was that Rome, just as prophesied, would act deceitfully by imposing high taxes on his “allies” with each of them inevitably being absorbed into the Roman Empire, with a loss of all independence. The prophecy further describes Rome:

He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers; he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. 11:24

Through “leagues of friendship” and political alliances, Rome’s foundation was laid by securing control of the world’s wealthiest areas, such as the great riches of Egypt, amassing vast amounts of wealth. Rome’s alliance with the Jews furthered Roman interests in the eastern Mediterranean regions. This form of expansion was entirely new to the Mediterranean world, as only military force had been the tool of expansion in the past.

…he shall devise his plans against the strongholds… The word translated against can also mean from. This Rome did from the strong fortresses of the city, famously called the city of seven hills. Bribery, flattery, and deception were foundational to their plans; effective weapons against the unwary.

…but only for a time. A time in Biblical prophecy means a year, or 360 days. One day symbolizes a literal year, according to Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6; Luke 13:32. The flourishing period of the pagan Roman Empire ran from 30BC (after the Battle of Actium in 31BC) to 330AD, when Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople. The time period here covered is 360 years… or only for a time.

There are no manmade kingdoms (or businesses), no matter how well-built or wisely operated, that will last forever. This is why our loving Lord teaches us to build upon Him. When we invest our energy and resources in the salvation of souls, we are building upon the only foundation that will endure for eternity!

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11